The word tennis is generally attributed to the French tenez, which in context is a phrase meaning "here!", "catch!", "here you are!", or "be ready!" (I'm about to serve the ball) — an equivalent to the golfing expression "play away!" The use of the word service originates from the fact that royalty (apparently King Henry VIII, in particular) disdained it as too menial a task, and therefore had their servants place the ball in play.